Are dogs allowed at special events, outside dining in Reno-Sparks?

It’s unlawful to bring a dog to an event or restaurant serving food in Reno-Sparks, even if it’s outside.

The background

Francine from Sparks, who describes herself as a “dog owner/lover,” wrote with a concern about bringing dogs to loud, crowded events that can be scary for them.

Her email also said, “It is unlawful to bring a dog to an event serving food, like the farmers market (on Victorian Square in Sparks).”

If Francine’s right that the presence of food makes bring your dog unlawful, this would seem to affect many events in the Truckee Meadows as well as many restaurants that allow customers to eat on outdoor patios with their dogs.

The site DogFriendly.com lists 19 restaurants in Reno and three in Sparks where dogs are welcome in outdoor dining areas.

Also affected would be Shakespeare Animal Fund, which offers assistance to low-income people with emergency veterinary needs, and other animal groups that regularly participate in events at area restaurants where dogs are encouraged at outdoor tables.

Shakespeare’s founder Jennifer Webb said, “What I’ve been told, but I’m absolutely not the expert, is that outside it’s not a health hazard. I would assume the restaurants would all check health codes and violations, in fact I’m sure they would have to or they couldn’t advertise.”

In her response, she included a press release that included this passage:

“Most of the time sharing food with Fido means being in a park, but if you dine at Wild River Grille’s beautiful outdoor patio, dogs are welcome!

“And, if you come on Labor Day, or any Monday evening to their now famous ‘Dinner With Your Dog’ night, your dog will get treats and a bowl of water while you enjoy some of Reno’s best al fresco dining and Shakespeare Animal Fund gets part of the proceeds, in order to help animals!”

This is where the dog-loving (in fact, all-animal-loving) Fact Checker is in a difficult situation. If it is illegal and this is printed in the newspaper and posted online, then it may harm fundraising efforts for organizations helping animals in need.

But facts are facts so Phil Ulibarri of the Washoe County Health Department was contacted.

He pointed to Washoe health code that says, “Live animals are prohibited within food establishments. This exclusion does not apply to edible fish, crustaceans, shellfish, fish in aquariums, dogs used by peace officers in the performance of their official duties and dogs used as aids by the visually or aurally handicapped.”

This seems in conflict with the Americans with Disabilities Act for people who have service dogs for issues other than sight and sound, but that’s another story. Regarding the question at hand, it says animals are prohibited “within” restaurants. Nothing about outside.

Ulibarri went further and said, “We have allowed dogs to be on patios as long as they do not pose a health issue. The dogs, with the exception of service animals, may not pass through the food facility. Food service workers are not allowed to have contact with the animals due to hygiene issues. The food facility permit holder is held responsible for monitoring the above actions.”

Reno Gazette-Journal reporter Susan Skorupa said this contradicts a 2010 story she wrote, where Tony Macaluso, a Washoe County Health Department food inspector, said animals aren’t allowed in outdoor restaurant eating areas.

“We’re not doing surveillance on them. If there’s a complaint or we’re doing an inspection, we deal with the (restaurant) operator and let them know pets are not allowed,” he’s quoted as saying.

Macaluso said he was quoted accurately in 2010 when the department interpreted “within food establishments” as including their outdoor patios.

But, he said, “in the last couple of years, we’ve had more requests from shop owners and as long as they follow precautions, there doesn’t seem to be a problem.”

Among the precautions are not allowing pets on chairs or tables and making sure employees don’t come in contact with the animal. It’s also not allowed if the outdoor area is enclosed, if the animals must walk through the main restaurant to get outside, or if food is stored or prep work done outside.

“Our No. 1 concern is that the public not be put at risk,” Macaluso said.

As for public events, which Francine was concerned with, Ulibarri wrote, “The farmers markets, temporary foods and special events are typically treated in the same fashion (as restaurants’ outdoor patios). The permit holder is responsible for the food safety. Animals with the exception of service animals are not allowed in the food booths, storage areas or food prep areas, etc. Food booths are not allowed to be located near areas used for the sale of live animals (fowls, rabbits, etc.) or petting zoos or any other areas where animals are kept. This has been enforced in the past year as needed.”

So, from a health department standpoint, dogs can be OK to bring to public events but what about other government rules that might bar them? That was Francine’s real question.

She later clarified that she was speaking of events on Victorian Square. Bringing dogs to those is unlawful, even if it doesn’t run afoul of health code.

Sparks municipal code says that with the exception of service animals, “it shall be unlawful for any person to bring an animal into the area designated for a special event occurring at Victorian Square.”

And Reno events?

Alexis Hill, special events program manager for the city of Reno, said, “Unless the promoter of an event is licensed under their special event permit to have animals at their event (for example, “Splash Dogs” at the Reno River Festival this year or adoptions at the park), the city of Reno does not allow animals at our special events.”

The verdict

Unless it’s specifically for pets, you should assume your dog is not allowed at Reno-Sparks special events.

Then there’s the matter of restaurants with outdoor tables. Although its position was different in the past, the Washoe health department says it’s OK now to dine outside with your dog if certain precautions are followed. So, bone appetit!

Truthmeter: 5 (out of 10)

Perhaps someone should make the law crystal clear by proposing a change to state statute to allow dogs in the outdoor areas of restaurants. Plus it’s a growing trend nationally. Florida has approved it statewide, and it would make Nevada an even more attractive destination for vacationers with dogs.

Caption: Dahuahua hangs out on a Monday night last year at the Wild River Grille in downtown Reno. Dahuahua is owned by Landess Witmer.

- Mark Robison, Reno Gazette-Journal

——-

Dining with your dog

Dine Mondays — including Labor Day — at Wild River Grille, 17 S. Virginia St. along the Truckee River, and part of the proceeds will go to Shakespeare Animal Fund.

The group helps with emergency veterinary bills for elderly, disabled and other low-income individuals. Last week, it helped a man whose dog had been ill for a month get much-needed medicine and a woman get medical care for a cat who had been injured in a dog attack.

At Wild River Grille on Mondays, your dog will get treats and a bowl of water while you eat dinner.

For details, call Jennifer Webb of Shakespeare Animal Fund at 775-342-7040 or Valerie of Wild River Grill at 775-284-7455.

It's time we start considering the removal of bureaucrats and BS regulations. I'm more in danger of an overzealous politician or some appointed government goon getting power hungry than I am from a dog that's under control of it's owner at the table next to me. If anything, it helps with my blood pressure and stress, which is the opposite of what government does to me.

I find it a bit ironic that dogs are banned in many places but not if they are service animals. Does being a "service animal" all of a sudden mean they have no fleas, will not void or soil inside the facility? They do not shed, will not bite or bark? Considering anyone can register any dog as a "service animal" I think the ban on animals needs to be re-visited. (There are dozens of "service animal" registration sites on the internet.)

as a dog owner who takes dog everywhere am I not to enter or the owners asks me to leave?

Truthmeter and contact info

Fact Checker columns by Mark Robison are rated on a scale from 0 to 10, with 10 being absolutely true with no gray area, 5 being down the middle with good points by both sides, 1 being false with no gray area and 0 being intentionally, maliciously or foolishly false.

Email factchecker@rgj.com if you've got any queries about claims you've heard people make.